Friday, September 4, 2015

Ephemera for Lunch #21:
Class photo on the outside steps


We'll cap this week "Ephemera for Lunch" theme with what is possibly the oldest photograph of the lot. It's a group of schoolchildren and their teacher standing and sitting on the wide stone steps in front of what is probably their school.

The only identifying information is a stamp on the back that states: "G. Bernard Lohmuller, 1908 Bank Street."

There are several references to a G. Bernard Lohmuller living in the Baltimore, Maryland, area in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. He might have been married to a woman named Bertie — Bernie & Bertie, how cute! I also found references to a G. Bernard Lohmuller associated with the Baltimore Polytechnic Institute and the University of Maryland.

Most interestingly, assuming it's the same person, there's a G. Bernard Lohmuller listed as one of the architects associated with the Cedarcroft Historic District in Baltimore. It was a residential subdivision that was built between 1848 and 1937 and features the work of at least seven architects, including Lohmuller.

The only citation I found that connected a Lohmuller with 1908 Bank Street is that there was a Bessle C. Lohmuller listed as a registered Notary Public at that address, circa 1911.

None of that, of course, helps us figure out who these schoolchildren are and what school they attended, other than the strong possibility that it was located in Baltimore.

Here's a look at just the photograph...


And here are a couple of close-ups of schoolchildren. Maybe one of them is the child of Bernie and Bertie...


1 comment:

  1. G.B.Lohmuller is my grandfather. Bertie is his wife. One of the boys in the center looks JUST like my father so he has to be his father. My dad was born in 1926 so this is his father. So cool. Thanks so much for a wonderful surprise.

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